Some of the most powerful women in the world have championed the economic benefits of gender equality at an international conference in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Melinda Gates, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Chelsea Clinton led a long list of government officials, advocates, healthcare professionals and corporate leaders at the conference, organised by Women Deliver, an organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of girls and women.

It's the first time the conference has been held in Asia and it's been billed as the largest event of its kind this decade, examining the gains that have been made by women and the challenges that remain.

Maternal health, family planning and girls' education were on the agenda after a new World Bank report found addressing women's reproductive health needs is crucial to achieving that gender equality.

In her speech, acting head of UN Women, Lakshmi Puri, said maternal health is not just a women's issue.

"In fact, it impacts, as everybody has emphasised, the family, community and the next generations," she said.

Childbirth deaths

Around 12,000 babies are born every year at Malaysia's largest maternity facility, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, and over the past 20 years the number of women who die at the hospital from pregnancy related complications has halved.

Nationally, Malaysia has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the Asia Pacific.

Globally, a woman dies every two minutes from complications in pregnancy or childbirth and 40 per cent of those deaths happen in the Asia Pacific region.

Many women around the world struggle to access contraception.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark said sexual and reproductive health and rights are the core of human life, no matter much money someone might have.

"Whether, when and how many children to have are central choices in life," she said.

"This is particularly true for women because of their biological and social status in our communities."

More to improve

Although more girls than ever have before can go to school, more women are in the workforce and access to family planning is more widespread, lack of access to reproductive health services and family planning are cutting short millions of women's lives.

Melinda Gates from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said access to contraception gives women more life options.

"We know that if they have access to contraceptives, if they are educated about them, they have different options then in life," she said.

"We know that their children are healthier, they're healthier, and their families are wealthier."

Added benefits

The message coming from the conference is that every woman has the right to health care.

Hugh Evans, founder of the Global Poverty Project, said it's important to include everyone in the conversation, to get men as well as women to take action.

"[It] has the capacity to really build a grassroots movement of people worldwide, committed to the issue of family planning," he said.

Experts say it's not just about rights, but improving the lot of women by investing in women's health makes good economic sense.

Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak, said more needs to be done to give women the ability to choose their own path in life.

He says giving women that chance is beneficial for everyone.

"We know that investing in girls and women, investment in their education, health, safety, rights and financial independence not only pays but it's actually smart investment."